Gay Bilbao · City Guide

Bilbo | Bilbao

The largest city in the Basque Country. Bilbao is Spain's tenth largest city with a population of over 300,000 people. It's the heart of an urban area of around 1 million people.

Founded in the 14th Century, Bilbao found its fortunes due to exporting iron from its bustling port. In the 19th and early 20th Centuries the city experienced massive industrialisation making it the second most industrialised region of Spain after Barcelona.

Nowadays, Bilbao has a diverse economy and a thriving cultural scene, spearheaded by the opening of the Guggenheim Museum in 1997. It's football team is one of the most respected in Europe. Visitors are rewarded with a plethora of fine dining opportunities and some of the best shops in Spain.

Gay Rights in Spain

For gay rights in Spain, please see our Gay Madrid City Guide page.

Gay Scene

Bilbao's gay scene isn't the largest but it is certainly lively. The majority of Bilbao's gay venues are located within close proximity to each other in the areas known as Casco Viejo and Bilbao La Vieja. In these areas you will find moat of the bars and clubs. Saunas are a little bit further west.

In July the city hosts an annual pride celebration which is very popular with Basque celebrities and politicians. Generally speaking, Bilbao is a very tolerant city and gay tourists receive a warm welcome.

Getting to Bilbao

By plane

Bilbao Airport (BIO) is located 9km north of Bilbao and is the busiest in northern Spain. It is well connected to European hub airports by flag carriers and low-cost airlines and there is a seasonal service to Israel.

From the airport you can take Bizkaibus A3247 from outside the arrivals hall. Services run every 20 minutes from 6.20am until midnight and journey times take around 25 minutes. Single journeys cost €1.45.

Taxis operatre 24/7 from outside the arrivals stand. They can be hailed at the airport but to save time you can book in advance by phone or online. Journeys cost in the region of €20-25 and journey times are around 20 minutes. Car hire is available at the airport.

By train

From Abando Station there are direct services to Vigo, Barcelona and Madrid which enable you to connect to destinations in the greater European rail network.

By boat

If coming from the UK there is a car ferry that leaves from Portsmouth operate by Brittany Ferries. Journey times are in the region of 24 hours and are only really worth taking if you have time to kill or not a fan of flying.

Getting around Bilbao

On foot

Large areas of the city centre are pedestrianised, making this a very good way of taking in the city. A pleasant walk along the river from the Guggenheim museum to the Casco Vieja should take about 30 minutes. There is, however, a greater risk of rain her in comparison to other Spanish cities so dress accordingly.

By public transport

Bilbao has an efficient public transport system of buses, trams and a metro service. The cheapest way to navigate this is to purchase a BARIK card which comes preloaded in denominations of €5, €10 and €15 and can be purchased from underground stations, tram stops, kiosks and tobacco shops. Cards can be used on all modes of trasport.

There are metro stations close to all the major tourist attractions and offer connections to the coast, should you fancy a day at the beach. Trains run from 6am to 11pm Monday to Thursday and until 2am on Friday. On the weekend there is a night service with trains every 15 minutes on the main lines. The network was designed by Norman Foster.

EuskoTran is the single tram line that runs alongside the Guggenheim Museum and offers you better opportunities to check out the city as you travel. It runs from around 6am to around 11pm.

Bilbobus is the municipal bus operator and their red buses and white lettering are easily recognisable. Most lines from about 6 or 7am until about 10pm with most services arriving within 10 to 20 minutes. On Fridays and Saturdays there is a night bus that runs until around 2am.

By taxi

There are a few official taxi companies operating in Bilbao and they should have their fares listed on the side of their windows. There are many taxi ranks available however it is easy to order one in advance, with taxis usually arriving within 5 minutes. Taxi apps such as Uber are used in Bilbao.

Where to Stay in Bilbao

Some of the best-value hotels in Bilbao can be found on our Gay Bilbao Hotels page.

Things to See & Do

The Guggenheim Museum - the jewel in Bilbao's cultural crown. Nothing is more emblematic of Bilbao's relatively recent rise to the tourist trail than Frank Gehry's postmodernist masterpiece. It hosts changing exhibitions throughout the calendar and its permanent collection includes works by Phillip Rothko and Jeff Koons.

Santiago Cathedral - a mixture of gothic and gothic revival architecture. This cathedral was completed in the 15th Century and has played an important part in the history of Bilbao. Pay attention to the buttresses of the main vault as they have carvings of local merchants on them.

Mercado de la Ribera - one of the largest covered markets in Europe. Here you can buy a wide variety of fresh produce as well as artisan and farmers' craft goods. Closed on Sundays.

Plaza Nueva - neoclassical square that was formally the seat of the Biscay government. Here you will find a good selection of restaurants and bars. There is a flea market on Sundays.

Plaza Moyua and Gran Vía - the main shopping area of Bilbao and where to scout out a bargain. Here you will find many high-end brands as well as Bilbao's branch of the Spanish department store chain El Corte Ingles

Palacio de Ibaigane - the home to Athletic Club de Bilbao and an architectural marvel in itself. You can take a stadium tour however the best way to take in the atmosphere here is to attend a football match at home.

El Arenal Parque - a great spot to take a stroll on a sunny afternoon. In summer be sure to catch an open air performance at the kiosko.

Basque Museum - find out more about the unique and fascinating heritage of the Basque people and what separates them from the rest of Spain.

When to Visit

Bilbao's climate is milder than other destinations in Spain which means that winter temperatures are mostly above freezing and it is rare for summer temperatures to exceed 35ºc. Due to its location, rain is present all throughout the year so an umbrella is recommended whenever you go. There isn't really a mad rush of tourists in the summer.

Many celebrations and festivals are held throughout the year in Bilbao. On the first Saturday after August 15th, the city celebrates it's holiday with street theatre, music and lots of fireworks. In late November and early December, there is a prestigious short film and documentary festival that draws an international crowd.

Money

Spain is a Euro area country. Cash dispensers are widely available. Credit and debit cards are widely accepted. Hotels, banks and some local businesses also operate foreign exchange desks.

Other Useful Info

The main language used here is Basque which is very different to standard Spanish. It is also worth noting that there is a very strong sense of Basque nationality here so be sensitive to the local culture- avoid referring to being in Spain and avoid displaying obviously Spanish symbols i.e Real Madrid football merchandise etc.